Episode 8 – Inside the Beltway
FADE IN: NIGHT - A Popular
Bar in DC for Gov officials
TREVOR is snorting a line
of coke off the sink in the bar’s bathroom before he retakes his drinking seat
at the Bar and hits on whatever woman happens to order a drink. KEVIN, having a
drink with a COLLEAGUE, sitting at a corner table across the room had spotted
him earlier and was hoping to avoid him when he was spotted by TREVOR doing a
female scan of the room.
TREVOR approaches table
where KEVIN & COLLEAGUE are finishing up a discussion…
TREVOR
Well if it isn’t the Data
boy wonder! Long time no see! What’s new in the oval office?
KEVIN
Hey Trevor – yeah it’s
been a while. You know I can’t talk about that stuff. Anyway, my colleague and
I were just leaving.
TREVOR
What? Have I got the
cooties or something? Come on man – stick around for minute so we can catch up.
We haven’t spoken since I took over your old job working for White.
Looks at COLLEAGUE for
reason to go with him but has none
COLLEAGUE
That’s cool Kevin – We
were done anyway. I’ll get on that project first thing in the morning - Nice to
meet you Trevor. Good night.
COLLEAGUE departs and
TREVOR takes his seat at the table
TREVOR
So - why the cold
reception Kevin? Not holding any grudges, are we?
KEVIN
No – why would I – just
tired from working all day.
TREVOR
I realize we were never
that close in college, you being a couple years ahead of me but we had a few
good times at the Delta-Phi sorority parties! Remember that time when Tad put
the ecstasy powder in the punch? Everyone got laid that night!
KEVIN
Yeah – whether they liked
it or not.
TREVOR
What’s that?
KEVIN
Nothing – you come here
often?
TREVOR
Often enough – usually
when I’m lonely and horny – try to get some action. But it’s been a little dry
lately – what about you?
KEVIN
Once in a while to let off
a little steam and usually with a colleague or two working out the next day’s
agenda.
TREVOR
Must be pretty cool
working for the president with all the crazy shit going on in the world right
now.
KEVIN
I don’t about cool but
definitely not boring. So you’re still working for Mr. White?
TREVOR
Yes, yes! Old man has
taken quite a liking to me – because I execute Kevin! He’s showing me the ropes
and I am paying close attention to a master.
Another round of drinks
arrives ordered previously by Trevor
KEVIN
Oh thanks – but I really
shouldn’t – need to get up early tomorrow…
TREVOR
So do we all Kevin! Come
on man – it’s just another beer – I’m drinking the hard stuff here! Let’s catch
up a little – I can tell you what I’ve
been working on – not as top secret as what you’re allowed to talk about – even
though I have signed non discloser agreements – but we’re all on the same side
– right Kevin?
KEVIN
Same side? What do you
mean by that?
TREVOR
Come on Kevin – don’t play
dumb – you know what I mean! I may not be in on the actual meetings with Mr.
White and the president, but I get a decent break down from the old man. This
neo-Socialist CRD movement and the march on DC is a threat to our agenda man!
KEVIN
What agenda would that be?
TREVOR
Oh – okay – you’re going
to be like that! Whatever dude! Our people have to stick together – there’s a
battle for our country going on pal!
KEVIN
The only battle I’m concerned
with is trying to get the president reelected in a few months.
TREVOR
Exactly – that’s what I’m
talking about! I have been working behind the scenes to ensure that and the
demise of the CRD movement.
KEVIN
Yes – I see you have
become quite the disinformation propaganda machine against Joe Palenti.
TREVOR
That’s right my friend. I
have a young social media crew under my wing spreading semi-truths about
Palenti – who I consider a commie enemy of the state!
KEVIN
Semi-truths? Gimme a
break! Straight up lies are more like it. Mr. Palenti is a decorated war vet
and an Ivy league educated History professor.
Trevor raises his hand for
another round of drinks.
TREVOR
Wow! Whose side are you on
man? Palenti and other radicals like him are a dangerous threat to the
hierarchy established by our founding fathers. I always wondered where your
allegiances lie being a science geek from the middle class. But you are a WASP
and should be proud of your heritage and willing to fight to keep control of
our country. We only have a tenuous grip that could easily slip back to the
riff raff who have ruined our country over the last few decades!
KEVIN
I am on the side of the
Constitution Trevor. My Dad served over seas’ as did my uncles. I worked my ass
off to receive all my scholarships to get through the ridiculously expensive and
pretentious Ivy League schools. As far as the riff raff – we are a melting pot
country of immigrants and our diversity has always been an asset as far as
innovation, industry and culture. If anything, the riff raff are historically
the creative types that give us cultural soft power around the world. The
people of the world like our movies, music and VR games, bombs not so much. And
FYI – I am part Irish and possibly a little Native American – neither of whom
were treated well historically by the WASPs by any stretch of the imagination.
TREVOR
Oh my God! You sound like
one of them! You’re mostly white – right? Are you even a Republican? Please
don’t tell me you’re an Independent, Progressive or Democratic Socialist!
KEVIN
If you must know – yes I
am a conservative Independent.
TREVOR
Isn’t that convenient! Sounds
like a switch hitter to me – the kind that spread diseases! I always knew you
were not really one of us – refused to be initiated into our fraternity – just
came to the parties occasionally – a real rebel huh?
KEVIN
Yes – I was never big on
the hazing rituals – seemed foolish and immature. While you guys partied all
the time, I had to work extra hard to keep my GPA at 4.0 to keep the scholarships going. Unlike
you and your frat buddies – I did not win the inheritance lottery.
TREVOR
Yeah – yeah – Mr. Cum
Laude! A real know it all - huh? Well there you are wrong Mr. Smarty Pants! My
family lost most of our fortune during the Green Revolution era – the switch
over to new energies killed our portfolio. Granted – I still have a decent nest
egg that I plan to use to launch my own ship soon.
KEVIN
Got big ambitions – what a
surprise! The sky’s the limit – right?
TREVOR
You sound like a closet
commie Kevin! Big ambitions built this country my friend.
Trevor orders another
drink for himself, as Kevin indicates none for him to the waiter with a wave of
his hand.
KEVIN
Ambition is all well and
fine – the American Dream’s appeal is to work hard for a decent life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, but greedy, blind ambitions have caused many of
the major problems we are facing today in the late 21st century.
TREVOR
I read this anti-free
market, anti-American crap on the Internet all the time from naïve people who don’t
have any money so it’s easy for them to trash the system. Whose fault is it
they are poor? Their own! Why do they all want to reach into our pockets and
take our hard-earned money? People have to take responsibility for themselves!
Am I wrong Kevin?
KEVIN
No – I agree with you
about taking responsibility – but these issues are complex, and I really don’t
have the energy or time to debate them with you right now. I…
TREVOR
All right - hold up a
minute – I just got this drink and you still have a half a beer left – let’s
change the
TREVOR (CON’T)
subject to something you
may be more interested in – how we plan to shut down the big march.
KEVIN
The president told Mr.
White he did not want anything to do with anything that may cause a major
ruckus a month before the election in November – so I think it best you keep
that info to yourself – I…
TREVOR
Don’t play coy with me Kevin
– you’re dying to hear what your old boss Mr. White has in mind!
KEVIN
No - really, I’m not.
Trevor is now clearly
drunk and slurring his words.
TREVOR
He’s going to do the old
planting of thugs’ scheme at the beginning of the DC march to create violence
and chaos so Homeland Security moves in and shuts it down before it even
starts! Thus, killing the CRD movement in its tracks and hurting Senator Jones
chances of winning the election. I even overheard something about taking out
Palenti but I was listening through a door – so…
KEVIN
I knew there was a reason
I did not want to talk to you. I really must be going now – take care Trevor.
TREVOR
Wait a minnnuutte – I was
just about to tell youuuuu about how I tagged Amelia a few chimes! I know you
always had a crush on her but were too shyyyy to bust a move!
KEVIN
Wha – what? You and
Amelia? I don’t believe it!
TREVOR
Oh yeah – it was awesome!
You can ask her if you don’t believe me. Unfortunately, she and the old man had
a fight and now she lives in exile in some dumpy pad in the DC suburbs working
at a nonprofit. God knows why – she just passed the bar exam! She’s kind of
like you with all her self-righteous moralizing. Sadly, she’ll have nothing to
do with me – not her type I
guess. Tooo ambitious! Ha ha! Hey Kevin – hold up… Don’t be so sensitive! I
haven’t told you about my own big plans yet!
Kevin storms out of the
bar disgusted by everything he has heard from Trevor.
FADE OUT:
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